Alex Mack enters College Football Hall of Fame
The California Golden Bears have their first Hall of Famer in decades.
For the first time in a decade (and for the first player in three decades), a California Golden Bear has made the College Football Hall of Fame. Congratulations Alex Mack!
Mack was the cornerstone of some of the peak Jeff Tedford era college football teams, lining up at center and opening up massive holes for Marshawn Lynch, Justin Forsett, Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen. Mack won numerous awards during his time in college and anchored the best offense that have ever been launched in Strawberry Canyon.
Alex Mack has been selected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2025 in his first year on the ballot, the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced Wednesday.
Mack becomes the 17th former player and 23rd overall member of the Cal football program to be enshrined in the esteemed Hall, with the most recent being quarterback Steve Bartkowski in the Class of 2012.
Mack capped off his collegiate career in 2008 when the offensive lineman became the only Cal player to ever win the prestigious Draddy Trophy (now known as the William V. Campbell Trophy), college football's premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the best in the nation for his combined athletic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. Mack is the only Hall of Famer in the Class of 2025 to have earned the honor.
As a senior, he was also a team captain and the Pac-10's Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, earned his second consecutive All-American (Rivals) nod and Morris Trophy selection as the Pac-10's top offensive lineman, his third straight first-team All-Pac-10 accolade and his fourth Pac-10 All-Academic selection in a row.
Mack helped Cal win four bowl games (2005 Las Vegas Bowl, 2006 Holiday Bowl, 2007 Armed Forces Bowl, 2008 Emerald Bowl) and post a 34-17 overall record during his collegiate career with the Bears ranked in the top 25 nationally at one point during each of the four campaigns in which he saw action.
Following his collegiate career, Mack was selected in the first round (No. 21 overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns and played 13 seasons in the league with Cleveland (2009-15), Atlanta (2016-20) and San Francisco (2021). He was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2010's NFL All-Decade Team, a seven-time Pro Bowler and a three-time second-team All-Pro.
"Alex Mack is what an elite student-athlete and tremendous person should be all about - on the field, in the classroom and in his community," Cal's all-time winningest head football coach Jeff Tedford said. "Alex was an integral part of the success we enjoyed at Cal and a joy to coach. He gave everything he could on and off the field. I could not be prouder of Alex. His selection to the College Football Hall of Fame is well-deserved and something that only a few of the very best of the best in our game are ever able to realize.""Alex Mack was one of the best to ever play our game and his selection to the College Football Hall of Fame today is a tremendous accomplishment," Travers Family Head Football Coach Justin Wilcox added. "We are so happy for Alex that he is being recognized with this prestigious honor. It is well-deserved."
You can see that based on the last Hall of Fame announcement being Bartkowski, it’s been quite awhile since a Cal football player has made it to the Hall of Fame. Cal Bears in the College Football Hall of Fame include (by decade):
1910s
Stan Barnes – Line (1918-21) – inducted 1954
Walter Gordon – Tackle (1916-18) – 1975
Andy Smith – Head Coach (1916-25) – 1951
1920s
Don McMillian – Tackle (1920-21) – 1971
Brick Muller – End (1920-22) – 1951
Babe Horrell – Center (1923-24) – 1969
1930s
Vic Bottari – Halfback (1936-38) – 1981
Sam Chapman – Halfback (1935-37) – 1984
Bob Herwig – Center (1935-37) – 1964
Bill Ingram – Head Coach (1931-34) – 1973
1940s
Rod Franz – Guard (1946-49) – 1977
Jackie Jensen – Fullback (1946-48) – 1984
Les Richter – Guard (1949-51) – 1982
Buck Shaw – Head Coach (1945) – 1972
1950s
Matt Hazeltine – Center (1951-54) – 1989
Joe Kapp – Quarterback (1956-58) – 2003
John Ralston – Assistant Coach (1956-58) – 1992
1960s
Craig Morton – Quarterback (1962-64) – 1992
Ed White – Defensive Line (1966-68) – 1999
Pappy Waldorf – Head Coach (1947-56) – 1966
1970s
Steve Bartkowski – Quarterback (1972-74) – 2012
2000s
Alex Mack – Center (2004-08) – 2025
I didn't realize it was that hard to get into College Hall of Fame.
Not even Tony Gonzalez is in it.
Great selection! Great player, great person!